Exclusive: Secret pay-for-play text rocks Trump White House
Top Trump adviser Ric Grenell allegedly outlined a stunning pay-for-influence offer to a Turkish billionaire last year: access to "POTUS," "VIP events" and administration officials, according to a text message, reviewed by Axios, that the White House counsel is investigating. "Once the money comes to the company here, I will arrange the donation to Kennedy Centre [sic], and you'll be joining the…
A text message exchange has emerged that suggests a pay-for-influence scheme within the Trump White House, according to a report by Axios. Top adviser Ric Grenell allegedly offered a Turkish billionaire access to the president, VIP events, and administration officials in exchange for money. The White House counsel is currently investigating the allegations.
Grenell has denied the accusations, calling them "lies." The controversy involves a potential multimillion-dollar donation to the Kennedy Center, which Grenell led at the time. Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon, who is married to former U.S. attorney Alina Habba, claims he was directed by Grenell to wire $17.6 million to a Houston-based defense company, TXAT, for a contract in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mildon alleges that $6 million of the funds were intended for the Kennedy Center. However, the Kennedy Center never received the money, and it is unclear what the Congo contract entailed or how it connected to the Kennedy Center. The situation is further complicated by inconsistencies in Habba's statements about the amount of money involved and the source of the funds.
Grenell has dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and denied ever requesting or receiving any payment for the Kennedy Center.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
